Much-needed help for foster care leavers

A pilot program to support young people moving from foster care to independence is set to be launched in Sydney on Wednesday.

With almost 40,000 Australian children in foster care, Wesley mission will launch the 12-month support program to provide mentoring services to young people leaving foster care.

The program will provide education and training, life skill development, access to accommodation and employment opportunities.

Wesley Mission CEO Keith Garner says very few foster care children have extended family or community networks to fall back on.

"There is almost no support to help these young people successfully take charge of their own lives as they leave foster care," Reverend Garner said in a statement.

"Research indicates that the ensuing years are marked by low levels of educational attainment and high rates of unemployment, mobility, homelessness, financial difficulty, loneliness and physical and mental health problems."